Chapter Summaries

Lin Xia and Si Long concealed the Crimson Mecha when Zhu Yu arrived at the Blacksmith Association, wary that she might discover it. In the reception room, Zhu Yu asked after Lou Gao and her jade token, and Lin Xia claimed his teacher had left to pursue a breakthrough.

• Lin Xia and Larvitar sensed someone approaching the Forge Room, and Si Di announced that Zhu Yu had arrived.
• Lin Xia warned Si Long to keep the Crimson Mecha secret, and Si Long covered it with a canvas sheet.
• Si Long opened the workshop doors, and Zhu Yu greeted Lin Xia before he led her away to the reception room.
• Zhu Yu probed Lin Xia with Soul Power as he escorted her, but he concealed his suspicions and explained that unfinished products were in the Forge Room.
• Zhu Yu asked where Lou Gao was and whether Lin Xia still had her Star Crown Jade Token, and Lin Xia said Lou Gao had found an opportunity to break through.

Lin Xia learned that Zhu Yu had come on the Star Luo Emperor’s orders to request military equipment and repairs to the Star Radiance Crown. Seeing a chance to study its Soul Tool technology, he volunteered to repair it, claiming Lou Gao had taught him everything before leaving.

• Lin Xia told Zhu Yu that Lou Gao had gone to seek a breakthrough and would be absent for months or possibly years.
• Zhu Yu explained that the Empire urgently needed military equipment and wanted Lou Gao to repair the damaged Star Radiance Crown.
• Zhu Yu described cracks around the crown’s Tear of the Star Core gemstone and the loss of its starlight-resonance phenomenon.
• Lin Xia realized the crown’s energy core and Soul Power resonance might help him solve problems with his Divine Work mecha.
• Lin Xia offered to repair the crown, insisting that Lou Gao had passed all his knowledge and techniques on to him.

Lin Xia agreed to accompany Zhu Yu to Star Luo City and attempt to restore the Star Radiance Crown. He left to prepare for the journey, while Si Long and Si Di promised to manage the Blacksmith Association and its armaments order in his absence.

• Si Long and Si Di vouched for Lin Xia's forging skill and said Lou Gao had entrusted him with important materials and secrets.
• Zhu Yu decided Lin Xia was the Empire's best hope and formally asked him to accompany her to Star Luo City to restore the Star Radiance Crown.
• Lin Xia accepted, hoping to study the Crown's Soul Tool technology, while thanking Zhu Yu for the Empire's promised compensation and support.
• Lin Xia said he could depart after an hour to pack, and Zhu Yu arranged to meet him at the Association's main entrance.
• Si Long and Si Di promised to oversee the Association and armaments order, warned Lin Xia about Star Luo City's dangers, and Lin Xia headed to his courtyard with Larvitar.

Lin Xia traveled with Empress Zhu Yu to Star Luo City, learning that she was the Emperor’s wife and had lost a son. Zhu Yu brought him to stay at the Zhu Family residence, where he would prepare to study the Star Radiance Crown.

• Zhu Yu gave Vice President Si Long the Empire’s deposit and materials list for the Blacksmith Association’s military equipment commission before leaving Gengjin City with Lin Xia and Larvitar.
• During their ten-day journey, Lin Xia cultivated Zhu Yu’s affection while gathering information about the Empire and her family.
• Zhu Yu told Lin Xia that she had once had a son, a Prince of Star Luo who had died young, and that she was the nominal mother of Dai Mubai and Dai Weisi.
• Lin Xia realized Zhu Yu was Empress and a powerful Zhu Family member, and worried that her growing maternal affection toward him had gone too far.
• Upon reaching Star Luo City, Zhu Yu took Lin Xia to the Zhu Family residence instead of the Imperial Palace, where guards welcomed her as Empress and she introduced Lin Xia as her honored guest.

Zhu Yu brought Lin Xia and Larvitar into the Zhu Family estate and asked Lin Xia to become her godson, moved by grief for the child she had lost. Lin Xia was stunned and weighed the political advantages and risks before giving an answer.

• Zhu Yu led Lin Xia and Larvitar through the Zhu Manor side gate into the lavish estate.
• Lin Xia observed the grand courtyard and recognized the power and wealth of the Zhu Family.
• Zhu Yu looked at Lin Xia and, recalling her lost child, asked him to become her godson.
• Lin Xia was astonished and silently considered the benefits and dangers of joining Zhu Yu's family.

Lin Xia carefully avoided accepting Zhu Yu’s offer to become her godson, asking her to wait until his teacher Lou Gao returned. Zhu Yu agreed, then led Lin Xia and Larvitar to meet her elder brother, Zhu Zhan, the Zhu Family Patriarch.

• Lin Xia weighed the political risks of becoming Zhu Yu’s godson, including provoking Spirit Hall and endangering the Blacksmith Association.
• Lin Xia told Zhu Yu that he needed Lou Gao’s approval before making such a life-changing decision and asked her to give him time.
• Zhu Yu accepted Lin Xia’s request and said she would wait for his news.
• Zhu Yu led Lin Xia and Larvitar into the main reception hall, where they met Zhu Zhan, the Zhu Family Patriarch.

Lin Xia met Zhu Zhan and his daughters, Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing, after arriving at the Zhu residence with Zhu Yu and Larvitar. Zhu Zhan welcomed him as an honored guest and told his daughters to help him settle in.

• Zhu Zhan rose to greet Lin Xia and praised his talent and temperament.
• Lin Xia modestly credited his achievements to luck, surprising Zhu Zhuyun and amusing Zhu Zhan.
• Zhu Zhan introduced Lin Xia to Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing and asked them to look after him during his stay.
• Zhu Zhuyun welcomed Lin Xia with formal courtesy, while Zhu Zhuqing nervously greeted him and watched Larvitar.
• Lin Xia returned the sisters' greetings and said he would rely on them while staying at the residence.

Lin Xia toured the Zhu Family residence with Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing, noticing how deeply the sisters relied on each other. When he asked whether Zhuqing had awakened her Martial Soul, Zhuyun admitted she had not and confessed that she hoped Zhuqing would never awaken it, leaving Lin Xia to recognize the danger the Star Luo succession system posed to her.

• Zhu Zhan asked Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing to show Lin Xia around the residence and arrange comfortable lodging for him.
• Zhu Zhuyun led Lin Xia through the estate with Zhu Zhuqing, whose close dependence on her sister revealed their strong bond.
• Lin Xia noticed Zhuqing's Soul Power had not manifested and asked Zhu Zhuyun whether she had awakened her Martial Soul.
• Zhu Zhuyun confirmed Zhuqing had not awakened her Martial Soul and said she hoped it would never awaken in her lifetime.
• Lin Xia realized that awakening the Nether Spirit Cat Martial Soul could force Zhuqing into the Star Luo Empire's deadly succession struggle.

Zhu Zhuqing insisted that she wanted to awaken her Martial Soul despite Zhu Zhuyun's wish to spare her the Star Luo Empire's brutal inheritance struggle. Lin Xia encouraged Zhuqing's hopes, leaving Zhu Zhuyun shaken before she changed the subject and led them to choose Lin Xia a room.

• Zhu Zhuqing rejected Zhu Zhuyun's wish that she remain unable to cultivate and said she would awaken her Martial Soul in three days so she could protect her sister.
• Zhu Zhuyun praised Zhuqing as the strongest in her heart, then hid her tears when Zhuqing promised to protect her.
• Lin Xia reflected on the Star Luo Empire's harsh inheritance rules and decided not to interfere in the Zhu family's feud.
• Lin Xia told Zhuqing she might awaken a Martial Soul stronger than the Hell Spirit Cat, delighting Zhuqing and startling Zhu Zhuyun.
• Zhu Zhuyun changed the subject and took Lin Xia and Zhu Zhuqing to choose a room for him in Listening Bamboo Pavilion.

Lin Xia settled into the Zhu Family Residence to cultivate, but Zhu Zhuqing returned and asked him to play hide-and-seek with her and Larvitar. The three prepared to begin the game in the courtyard.

• Zhu Zhuyun left Lin Xia after showing him to his room, and he began cultivating while sensing the God-tier Dragon Bones in his Soul Tool.
• Lin Xia noticed someone watching him and discovered Zhu Zhuqing peeking through the window.
• Zhu Zhuqing told Lin Xia she was bored because her sister had gone out and her father was busy, so he invited her inside.
• Zhu Zhuqing asked Lin Xia and Larvitar to play hide-and-seek, and Lin Xia agreed to her courtyard rules.
• Lin Xia, Zhu Zhuqing, and Larvitar prepared to start with rock-paper-scissors.

Lin Xia played hide-and-seek with Zhu Zhuqing and Larvitar, enjoying their afternoon together. When it was time for Zhu Zhuqing to go home, she broke down in tears and asked Lin Xia whether she would die.

• Zhu Zhuqing won rock-paper-scissors, so Lin Xia covered his eyes and searched for her and Larvitar.
• Lin Xia found Larvitar under the bed, then hid with Zhu Zhuqing behind the curtains while Larvitar searched and found them.
• Zhu Zhuqing hid in a bedding cabinet for another round as the three continued playing.
• After a day of play, Lin Xia told Zhu Zhuqing to go home and rest before her sister worried.
• Zhu Zhuqing began sobbing, turned to Lin Xia with tearful eyes, and asked, "I... will I die?"

Zhu Zhuqing told Lin Xia that she feared her sister would kill her after she awakened the Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul. Lin Xia tried to comfort her but could not promise she would escape her family’s deadly succession rules, leaving Zhu Zhuqing convinced he knew her fear was true.

• Zhu Zhuqing revealed that she had overheard her sister tell their father she would kill Zhu Zhuqing if she awakened the Hell Spirit Cat and threatened her position.
• Zhu Zhuqing asked Lin Xia why she had to die and said she wanted to live happily with her family.
• Lin Xia tried to reassure Zhu Zhuqing by suggesting her Martial Soul might change and her sister might be conflicted, but he could not hide his doubts.
• Zhu Zhuqing sensed Lin Xia’s hesitation, lost hope, and forced a smile as she told him she understood.

Lin Xia promised the tearful Zhu Zhuqing that she could spend the next two days with him, then resolved to become stronger in case he could help her someday. Zhu Zhuqing continued visiting his home until her Martial Soul awakening day arrived.

• Zhu Zhuqing asked Lin Xia if she could keep coming to play, and he solemnly agreed.
• Zhu Zhuqing thanked Larvitar, then left Lin Xia's courtyard as Lin Xia considered her looming fate and vowed to grow stronger.
• Larvitar offered Lin Xia a piece of Sun Essence, and Lin Xia decided they would eat Mineral Ore and replenish themselves.
• Zhu Zhuqing visited Lin Xia each day, quietly reading while he trained and Larvitar ate.
• Zhu Zhuqing's Martial Soul awakening day finally arrived.

Zhu Zhuqing underwent her martial soul awakening in the Star Soul Hall, watched by the Star Luo Emperor, the Zhu family, and the princes. Her awakening revealed the Hell Spirit Cat, leaving the gathered nobles to witness her powerful, eerie martial soul.

• Lin Xia observed the assembled nobles and noticed Dai Mubai trembling with fear as Zhu Zhuqing approached the awakening array.
• Zhu Zhan activated the Pentagram Awakening Array while Zhu Zhuyun watched Zhu Zhuqing with sorrow and helplessness.
• The array enveloped Zhu Zhuqing in blue light as the hall waited for her awakening.
• A black energy burst from Zhu Zhuqing and a spirit cat with green eyes appeared behind her, revealing her Hell Spirit Cat martial soul.

After Zhu Zhuqing awakened a Level Seven Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul, Zhu Zhan declared that she was engaged to Dai Mubai and bound to the deadly rivalry between their families. Zhu Zhuqing revealed she had overheard her father and sister discussing her fate, then pleaded with them to deny that it was true.

• Zhu Zhan announced that Zhu Zhuqing had awakened the Hell Spirit Cat and possessed Level Seven innate Soul Power.
• Dai Mubai reacted in despair, while Dai Weisi watched with amusement and Zhu Zhuyun wept.
• Zhu Zhan declared Zhu Zhuqing Dai Mubai's fiancée, but Zhu Zhuqing interrupted him before he could explain the deadly competition.
• Zhu Zhuqing said she already knew about the marriage alliance and revealed that she had overheard Zhu Zhan and Zhu Zhuyun discussing it in the study.
• Zhu Zhuqing asked her father and sister to tell her that what she had heard was not true.

Zhu Zhuqing learned that her family had confirmed her fate in the Zhu-Dai marriage alliance, and she left the ceremony in stunned silence. In the following days, Lin Xia saw the servants favor Zhu Zhuyun while neglecting Zhu Zhuqing in their estate.

• Zhu Zhan and Zhu Zhuyun confirmed that the marriage-alliance arrangement was true, shattering Zhu Zhuqing's last hopes.
• Zhu Zhuqing left Star Soul Hall without looking back, and Zhu Zhan ended the ceremony.
• Zhu Yu departed, while the nobles whispered about Zhu Zhuqing's fate and the Star Luo Emperor and Dai Weisi left.
• Lin Xia noticed that Zhu Zhuqing stopped visiting him and that an icy estrangement spread through Zhu Manor.
• The servants increasingly favored Zhu Zhuyun, while Zhu Zhuqing received lukewarm milk, smaller meals, and perfunctory service.

Lin Xia watched Zhu Zhuqing face neglect and hostility in the Zhu Manor after her arranged marriage to Dai Mubai was deemed a failure. Unable to change her fate, he secretly used his standing and Larvitar’s help to improve her daily treatment and shield her from further mistreatment.

• Lin Xia saw Patriarch Zhu Zhan ignore servants’ disrespect toward Zhu Zhuqing and realized he would not intervene.
• Lin Xia deliberately spilled a serving woman’s inadequate meal so she would bring Zhu Zhuqing a more plentiful replacement.
• Lin Xia used his dirty clothes as an excuse to make a servant take Zhu Zhuqing’s laundry, then winked at her as he left.
• Lin Xia shared Blacksmith Association pastries with Zhu Zhuqing’s cook to encourage better meals for her.
• Lin Xia interrupted other children when they isolated Zhu Zhuqing and had Larvitar watch her courtyard at night for signs of danger.

Lin Xia confronted Zhu Zhuyun about his covert efforts to protect Zhu Zhuqing, while Zhu Zhuyun insisted that harsh treatment was necessary to prepare her sister for the Star Luo succession struggle. She left him asking him not to interfere, though she promised she would not truly harm Zhuqing.

• Lin Xia continued helping Zhu Zhuqing indirectly while she remained isolated in her courtyard.
• Zhu Zhuyun stopped Lin Xia on his way to the Blacksmith Association and asked to discuss Zhuqing.
• At a private teahouse, Lin Xia acknowledged that he had been helping Zhuqing, and Zhu Zhuyun thanked him before asking him to stop.
• Zhu Zhuyun explained that the Dai and Zhu Families' rules demanded ruthless competition, with the loser facing death or lifelong imprisonment.
• Lin Xia questioned whether Zhuqing had to endure humiliation and despair, and Zhu Zhuyun argued that dependence and hope could leave her unprepared to survive.
• Zhu Zhuyun urged Lin Xia not to interfere and said she would not truly harm Zhuqing, insisting that her cruel methods were the only way for Zhuqing to earn the right to survive.

Lin Xia accepted Zhu Zhuyun’s right to guide Zhu Zhuqing within the family’s cruel rules while resolving to grow strong enough to escape their constraints. After quietly supporting Zhu Zhuqing from a distance, he received a summons to restore the Star Radiance Crown for Emperor Dai Tianxing.

• Lin Xia weighed Zhu Zhuyun’s reasons for hardening Zhu Zhuqing and gave her a reserved nod, agreeing not to disrupt her plans through direct intervention for now.
• Zhu Zhuyun thanked Lin Xia and left, while he vowed to seek strength enough to break free of the rules.
• Lin Xia continued leaving Zhu Zhuqing fruit, books, and Ore Fragments through subtle gestures, and her fleeting reactions gave him a small comfort.
• More than ten days later, an imperial eunuch summoned Lin Xia to Star Brilliance Hall to begin restoring the Star Radiance Crown.
• Zhu Yu arrived to escort Lin Xia, and he joked that he had thought the emperor had forgotten him before she reassured him that the Imperial Family would honor its promises.

Zhu Yu brought Lin Xia to the Star Brilliance Hall in the Star Luo Imperial Palace, where he met Emperor Dai Tianxing. Lin Xia withstood the Emperor’s probing pressure and greeted him calmly, leaving their audience poised to begin.

• Lin Xia put away the Meteorite Fragment and said he wanted to see the Star Radiance Crown and investigate the Core Gem’s potential to awaken the Mecha.
• Zhu Yu took Lin Xia by carriage through Gengjin City to the Star Luo Imperial Palace and teased him about staying there or becoming her godson.
• Lin Xia politely declined Zhu Yu’s offer, saying he would wait for his master’s advice and first fulfill his promise to the Emperor.
• Zhu Yu led Lin Xia through the palace to Star Brilliance Hall, where Emperor Dai Tianxing watched him closely.
• Larvitar’s dragon-pattern mark glowed as its Ancient Dragon Blood helped Lin Xia bear Dai Tianxing’s pressure, and Lin Xia greeted the Emperor without wavering.